Freeway - The Inzomniac's Movie Madness Review.

Freeway
USA 1996. Director: Matthew Bright
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, Dan Hedaya

Bob Wolverton (Kiefer Sutherland) is a serial killer, by media called "the I5-killer", who picks his victims down the highway. Only this one day he picks up the wrong girl. He picks up troubled teenager and runaway punk Vanessa (Reese Witherspoon). Vanessa is on the road all by herself, on the run from parole and searching for her grandma after both her parents have been thrown into jail. Now she doesn't like Bob's intentions so she picks up the gun she has with her and shoots old Bob about 17 times ("Why do you kill them all girls, Bob?"). So far so good. Or perhaps not so. Vanessa is locked up in a juvenile facility from which she immediately escapes. Only Vanessa isn't any good shooter. Bob is still alive and back on her track, as are the police.

By intention a reworking of the Grimm Brother's Little Red Riding Hood, Freeway is a little gem. No, make that a huge gem with a couple of outstanding performances. Especially the wicked eye-opening performance by Reese Witherspoon who chew scenery like a crazy person with her aggressive behaviour and annoying high-pitch southern accent. Also Dan Hedaya is better than usual as the police detective in charge. Some of his patient face reactions to Vanessa's foul language are just priceless. Even a pre-24 Kiefer Sutherland is perversely slimey (that means good) as the psychopath and, yea, even Brooke Shields is okey. How much influence executive producer Oliver Stone has had on the film is obscure, but it's extremely violent and funny, full of black humour and offbeat characters, steadily helmed by debuting director Matthew Bright. He also made a sequel with Natasha Lyonne but forget that, it was just bizarre. He got it right the first time. In other words, great entertainment. See it soon.